Would rather play a $4 Trifecta of this type instead of a $2 four horse box. If you are unable to isolate the horses that will probably figure in the Trifecta to this number of.

• Exacta Bet In Horse Racing
• Horse Racing Exacta Systems

1. Exacta (also known as Perfecta) Calculator. An exacta, also known as a perfecta at some horse racing tracks, means you must select the first two finishers in exact, or perfect order. By playing an exacta part wheel, you increase your chance of winning while also increasing your cost.
2. Of course, most tracks now offer Exacta wagering in a minimum denomination of $1. A $1 Exacta box of horses 4-5 would cost you the same as a $2 Quinella including the same horses and would also pay off if the order of finish was 4-5 or 5-4, but a $1 Exacta ticket pays only half of the displayed $2 Exacta payoff as listed on the tote board.

What is a Quinella Bet?

Quinella betting requires you to select the first two finishers in a race in either order. For example, a $2 Quinella bet of 4-5 would pay off if the first two finishers in a race were 4-5 or 5-4. The minimum denomination for a Quinella bet at most tracks is $2. There is no maximum bet amount.
Quinella wagering provides bettors who like to combine horses with an option other than Exacta betting, at half the price.

For example, a $2 Quinella 4-5 costs $2 and pays off whether the order of finish is 4-5 or 5-4. To bet a full $2 Exacta including the same combinations of 4-5 and 5-4 would cost you $4. Of course, most tracks now offer Exacta wagering in a minimum denomination of $1.

A $1 Exacta box of horses 4-5 would cost you the same as a $2 Quinella including the same horses and would also pay off if the order of finish was 4-5 or 5-4, but a $1 Exacta ticket pays only half of the displayed $2 Exacta payoff as listed on the tote board. With the Quinella bet you would get the full $2 Quinella price displayed on the tote board.

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There are three different methods of betting Quinellas as follows:

Straight Quinella Betting

The first method of betting Quinellas is straightforward. A $2 Quinella 4-5 returns the full $2 Quinella payoff if the final order of finish in the race is 4-5 or 5-4.

Quinella Wheels and Part-Wheels

Quinella wheels and part-wheels allow you to wheel a horse (or more than one horse) with a number of other horses. For example, if you like the 3 horse to finish first or second but cannot decide among horses 4,5,6 which one will complete the Quinella you could play a $2 Quinella part-wheel of 3 with 4,5,6 at the cost of $6. Essentially, you would be playing three $2 Quinella tickets of 3-4, 3-5 and 3-6 which would pay off if the order of finish was 3-4, 4-3, 3-5, 5-3, 3-6 or 6-3.

A full Quinella wheel would include one or more horses with all the remaining horses in a field. For example, in an eight-horse field, a $2 Quinella wheel 2 with ALL would include 7 combinations: 2-1, 2-3, 2-4, 2-5, 2-6, 2-7 and 2-8 at a cost of $14 and would pay the full $2 Quinella payoff if the order of finish was 1-2, 2-1, 2-3, 3-2, 2-4, 4-2, 2-5, 5-2, 2-6, 6-2, 2-7, 7-2, 2-8 or 8-2.

If you are wheeling multiple horses with multiple horses in a $2 Quinella, such as 2-3 with 4-5-6, you can calculate the cost of the ticket by multiplying the number of horses in the first half of the Quinella wheel by the number of horses in the second half of the Quinella wheel and then multiplying that number by $2. In the aforementioned example a $2 Quinella wheel of 2-3 with 4-5-6 would result in 12 possible winning combinations at a cost of (2 * 3) * $2 = $12, and pay off if the order of finish in the race was any of the following: 2-4, 4-2, 2-5, 5-2, 2-6, 6-2, 3-4, 4-3, 3-5, 5-3, 3-6, 6-3.

Quinella boxes are a favorite among many players. They require less thought (you don’t have to pick the winner) and allow for multiple combinations on one ticket. You can combine an entire field into one Quinella box if you like, although this would likely be a highly unprofitable wager. Many casual bettors will play three or four contenders in a Quinella box when their handicapping fails to turn up a solid win play, or simply because they want to make sure they cash a ticket. To calculate the cost of a Quinella box, you multiply the number of horses in the box by the number of horses in the box minus one. For example, a $2 Quinella box 3,4,5 would cost (3 * 2) = $6 and include the combinations 3-4, 4-3, 3-5, 5-3, 4-5 and 5-4.

Below are the costs associated with $2 Quinella boxes in fields of up to 10 horses.

• $2 Quinella box of 3 horses = (3 * 2) = $6
• $2 Quinella box of 4 horses = (4 * 3) = $12
• $2 Quinella box of 5 horses = (5 * 4) = $20
• $2 Quinella box of 6 horses = (6 * 5) = $30
• $2 Quinella box of 7 horses = (7 * 6) = $42
• $2 Quinella box of 8 horses = (8 * 7) = $56
• $2 Quinella box of 9 horses = (9 * 8) = $72
• $2 Quinella box of 10 horses = (10 * 9) = $90

Profitable Quinella Wagering Strategies

Because the cost of betting a $2 Quinella box is 50 percent less than that of betting the same $2 Exacta box, many bettors think logically that the Quinella should pay only half as much as an Exacta including the same horses. This may be true in theory, but it is not always true in practice, especially at tracks where the betting pools are small.

For example, let’s say you want to bet a $2 Exacta box of horses 4-5 at the cost of $4. The tote board says the $2 Exacta 4-5 will pay $40 and the $2 Exacta of 5-4 pays $36. The tote board also says that a $2 Quinella 4-5 (which includes both combinations of 4-5 and 5-4) pays $24. In this case, you would get a better payoff by betting a $4 Quinella instead of a $2 Exacta box. A $4 Quinella would pay 2 * $24 = $48. The $2 Exacta of 4-5 included in your Exacta box would return only $40, and the $2 Exacta of 5-4 would pay only $36. A Quinella wager, in this case, would be the more profitable and smarter bet.

While the above may seem like simple math, it is missed by most casual bettors and many seasoned handicappers who have resigned themselves to thinking that Quinellas pay only half as much as Exactas. It is these same players who will also bet Quinella boxes when they cannot determine the winner of a race from among three or four contenders.

Because Quinella boxes result in the same amount being bet on each possible combination in the box, when in fact each combination does not have an equal probability of winning, they create inefficiencies in the wagering pools. Checking the probable Quinella payoffs and comparing them with the probable Exacta payoffs can offer additional insights into inefficiencies in the pools. Combinations of favorites and combinations of longshots are generally overbet and pay less than they should. Combinations of medium-priced horses generally pay more than they should.

In summary, if you really like a medium-priced horse and you think the favorites can finish out of the first two positions, you have probably found yourself a prime Quinella betting opportunity. You can take advantage of this by playing straight Quinellas or Quinella wheels with the horse you like, rather than playing Quinella boxes. This strategy requires less risk for a higher return and can provide solid long-term profits from Quinella betting.

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What is a Exacta Bet?

Exacta betting requires you to pick the first two finishers in a race in exact order – hence the name exacta. Also known at some tracks as the exactor or perfecta, exactas are attractive betting propositions to many players because of the potential for large payoffs. Exacta wagering also offers an opportunity to make a good profit on race in which a heavy favorite makes win betting a poor value proposition.

Whereas a horse might only pay $5 to win for a $2 bet, an exacta combining that winner with a longshot could pay substantially more. Some players like to bet exactas not only because of the potential for high payoffs, but also because the tote board at most racetracks will show the probable exacta payoffs before a race runs. Being able to see what you can win before a race runs is a very appealing option to many bettors. Additionally, exacta boxes of two or more horses are an option used by many bettors when their handicapping can’t separate the winner from their top contenders.

There are basically three different exacta wagering options, some more efficient than others.

Straight Exacta Betting

The first exacta wagering option is the straight exacta bet, generally offered in minimum denominations of $2. A $2 straight exacta bet 3-4 would require that horse 3 win the race and horse 4 finish second in order for you to cash a winning ticket.

Exacta Boxes

The second and most popular exacta wagering strategy is an exacta box combining 2 or more horses to finish first or second in either order. Generally offered in a minimum denomination of $1, an exacta box of horses 3-4 would represent 2 possible combinations – 3-4 and 4-3, at a cost of $2. The cost of a $1 exacta box correlates directly to the number of horses and possible combinations in the box.

For example, a $1 exacta box of 3 horses (2-3-4) represents 6 possible $1 winning combinations that include 2-3, 2-4, 3-4, 3-2, 4-2 and 4-3. While any of these combinations would allow you to cash a ticket, keep in mind that your payout would be only half of the actual $2 straight exacta payout, because you played a $1 box.

A box can be played in any denomination of $1 or more, but the higher the denomination played, the higher the cost. A $2 exacta box of the same three horses (2-3-4) would cost $12, twice as much as a $1 exacta box, but would also offer the full $2 exacta payout as displayed on the tote board.

To determine the cost of a $1 exacta box take the number of horses you want to box and multiply that number by the number of horses in the box minus 1. A $1 exacta box of four horses would be calculated as 4 * (4-1) * $1 = $12, which equates to 12 $1 exacta bets.

Below are some additional exacta box calculations with costs:

$1 exacta box of 3 horses = 3 * (3-1) = 6 combinations * $1= $6

$1 exacta box of 4 horses = 4 * (4-1) = 12 combinations * $1 = $12

$1 exacta box of 5 horses = 5 * (5-1) = 20 combinations * $1 = $20

$1 exacta box of 6 horses = 6 * (6-1) = 30 combinations * $1 = $30

$1 exacta box of 7 horses = 7 * (7-1) = 42 combinations * $1 = $42

$1 exacta box of 8 horses = 8 * (8-1) = 56 combinations * $1 = $56

You can box as many horses as you like in an exacta, but this is not generally a wise betting strategy simply because all of the horses in the box do not have the same chance of finishing first or second.

In most, but not all cases, exacta boxes represent poor value, but because they are relatively easy to understand, mentally easier to play (you don’t have to pick the horses in exact order) and offer the greatest probability of cashing a ticket (even at a loss), they are the most popular method of playing exactas.

Because exacta boxes rate each combination in the box as having the exact same probability of winning (which is never the case) they produce inefficiencies in the exacta betting pools. It is these inefficiencies that smart bettors look for and try to take advantage of.

Exacta Wheels and Exacta Part-Wheels

The third method of playing exactas is to wheel one horse (or more than one horse) in one position with any number of horses in the other position. For example, if you were to play a $1 exacta wheel 3-with-All in an eight-horse field (3 with 1,2,4,5,6,7,8 – seven $1 combinations) it would cost you $7. The 3 horse would have to win and any of 1,2,4,5,6,7,8 would have to finish second in order for you to cash a ticket. Or, if you think the 3 horse has a better chance of finishing second, you might play a $1 exacta wheel All-with-3 (1,2,4,5,6,7,8 with 3 – again seven $1 combinations) at a cost of $7. In this case any horse in the race could win and the 3 horse would have to finish second in order for you to cash a ticket.

Exactas can also be played as part-wheels, which differs from a full wheel in that you do not use ALL the horses in one part of the wheel. For example, in an eight-horse field, you might play a $1 exacta part-wheel 3 with 2, 4, 5 (three possible winning combinations of 3-2, 3-4, 3-5) at a cost of $3. Or you might play the part-wheel the other way, 2, 4, 5 with 3 (also three possible winning combinations of 2-3, 4-3, 5-3) at a cost of $3. While exacta wheels and part-wheels are not quite as inefficient as boxes, they still leave room for improvement, which brings us to our preferred exacta betting strategy.

Preferred Exacta Betting Strategies

Let’s say you like horses 5, 6 and 7 to finish first or second in a race. Your handicapping tells you that horse 5 has a 50 percent chance of winning the race, horse 6 has a 20 percent chance of winning and horse 7 has a 10 percent chance of winning. Most bettors in this scenario would play an exactor box of 5-6-7 – six possible combinations. Other bettors might play an exactor part-wheel wheel of 5-with 6, 7 and an additional part-wheel of 6, 7 with 5 – four possible combinations. The exactor box rates each possible combination as having the same probability of winning, which according to your handicapping is not correct. The part-wheel in this case is more efficient, leaving out the less probable combinations of 6-7 and 7-6, but still rating both the 6 and 7 horses as having the same probability of winning or finishing second.

Considering you have $60 to spend and that you have rated the chances of each horse winning as follows: 5 – 50%, 6-20%, 7-10%, below are some possible betting options:

Exacta Box – Least Efficient

$10 exacta box 5-6-7 = 6 possible combinations bet in equal proportion = $60

Resulting Exacta Tickets

• $10 exacta 5-6 = $10
• $10 exacta 5-7 = $10
• $10 exacta 6-5 = $10
• $10 exacta 6-7 = $10
• $10 exacta 7-5 = $10
• $10 exacta 7-6 = $10

Exacta Part-Wheels – Slightly More Efficient

$15 exacta part wheel 5 with 6, 7 and 6, 7 with 5 = 4 possible combinations = $60

Resulting Exacta Tickets

• $15 exacta 5-6 = $15
• $15 exacta 5-7 = $15
• $15 exacta 6-5 = $15
• $15 exacta 7-5 = $15

Exacta Part-Wheels Correlated to Winning Probabilities as Identified by Your Handicapping – Highly Efficient

• $30 exacta 5-6
• $20 exacta 5-7
• $6 exacta 6-5
• $4 exacta 7-5

Results and Exacta Payoffs

The race ran exactly as your handicapping said it would – the 5 horse won and the 6 horse ran second. The $2 exacta 5-6 paid $20. Lucky you! Depending on how you bet.

If you had bet the first option, the exacta box:

Cost: $60 Return: $10 exacta 5-6 = $100 - $60 = $40 Profit

If you had bet the second option, the exacta part-wheels:

Cost: $60 Return: $15 exacta 5-6 = $150 - $60 = $90 Profit

If you had bet the third option – exacta part-wheels correlated to winning probabilities as identified by your handicapping:

Cost: $60 Return: $30 exacta 5-6 = $300 - $60 = $240 Profit

The final exacta wagering strategy, which places more money on the higher probability combinations as identified by your handicapping, produces the largest profit – which is the key to producing a positive return on investment over the long term. While you might cash more tickets using the inefficient exacta box method, it is unlikely that this low-profit strategy will sustain itself over the long haul.

Exacta Bet In Horse Racing

Keeping in mind that combinations of favorites in exactas generally produce lower payoffs than they should, as do combinations of longshots, you can further increase you chances of achieving a positive return on investment by focusing your play on races in which your handicapping points to the high probability of two medium-priced horses completing the exacta. The latter scenario often results in payoffs that are larger than they should be due to inefficiencies in the exacta betting pools.

In summary, using solid handicapping fundamentals to determine your own set of probabilities, and then focusing your main exacta combinations on the most probable outcomes, rather than on boxes and wheels, is the key to making a long-term profit from exacta betting.

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How to Bet on Horses

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Horse Racing Exacta Systems